THE TOWN OF HARRISON. 387 



mortally. Colonel Holmes and Captain Kipp had their horses killed 

 under them, the levies had not a man killed or wounded."* 



The above engagement took place in the vicinity of Merritt's tavern. 

 Mosher's command consisted of only eighteen men, while the British 

 horse under Colonel Holmes numbered over seventy. 6 



We believe the whole period of the American war cannot produce 

 such another instance, in which the enemy were repulsed by so small a 

 force. General Washington himself often spoke of this brilliant affair, 

 and praised the gallantry of the brave Mosher. c 



The surface of this town is mostly level ; soil, loam, fertile and well 

 cultivated, drained by Blind Brook (Mockquams) and Mamaroneck River, 

 running south into Long Island^ Sound, supplying mill seats in abund- 

 ance. d The south line of the town is about one mile from the Sound, 

 and the northeast corner touches upon the west line of Connecticut. 

 The growth of wood consists principally of oak of all kinds, chestnut, 

 much hickory, ash and elm, &c, &c. 



The following extracts from the town records relate to the election of 

 town officers at the commencement of the Revolution, and immediately 

 subsequent :— 



"On Tuesday, the 2d of April, 1776, the freeholders, inhabitants of Harrison's 

 Precinct, met at the place appointed by law, and made choice of the following 

 town officers - — 



Samuel Haviland, Supervisor, 

 William Millee, Town Clerk, 

 Joshua Hunt, ~) 



John Haight, >• Assessors, 



Wellsey Dusenbeey, ) 



Joseph Caepentee, Highway Master for lower part, 

 David Halstead, " " the middle, 



Stephen Field, Highway Master for the upper, 

 William Asoough, " " Brown's Point, 



William Woodwabd, " " North street, 



Job Hadden, " " West and Haight streets, 



all to the usual bounds. 



Th™ P.™' } Yaa > an4 Dama « e ^^ 



Thomas Paek, Pownder," 



a Heath's Mem. p. 324. 



6 A full narrative of this memorable event has been published in almost every country in 

 Europe, showing what a handful of infantry can do, opposed to a strong force of horse. 

 Seven of Mosher's party were from the farm of General Pierre van Cortlandt, Cortlandtown. 



c On the east side of the road leading from the Purchase to Rye, lies the grave of an old 

 veteran by the name of John Peter Follow, who died at the advanced age of 120. He requested 

 that the following epitaph might be inscribed on his tomb stone :— 

 " Here lies as good a soldier 

 as ever fought in Flanders." 



Also, in the same vicinity, Louis Burling, a colored soldier of the Revolution, who served as 

 a private in col. Samuel Pell's regiment. 



d Upon the Mockquams, or Blind BrooK, is situated the grist mill of the late Gen. Thomas. 



